Stephen Baldwin plays role in Christian film produced here

Stephen Baldwin portrays a father in the independent Christian film “Scarlett” being shot in San Antonio.

Stephen Baldwin portrays a father in the independent Christian film “Scarlett” being shot in San Antonio.

Photo: Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

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Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 3 of 8

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 4 of 8

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 5 of 8

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 6 of 8

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 7 of 8

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Image 8 of 8

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Stephen Baldwin is starring in an independent Christian film being shot in San Antonio and called "Scarlet." Strong Foundation Films based in San Antonio is producing it and filming the movie in San Antonio.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

Stephen Baldwin plays role in Christian film produced here

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SAN ANTONIO — A local ministry is wrapping up filming this week of a faith-based movie it has been shooting for nearly a month in San Antonio and the Gulf Coast, recruiting members to volunteer as extras and borrowing local facilities to weave a tale of romance and redemption.

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“Scarlett” is the ministry's 10th film but its first to land a signature name to its cast: Stephen Baldwin. A star in “8 Seconds” and “The Usual Suspects,” among other films, he is portraying a father and lending his industry experience to the film.

Set for release in late fall, it's the handiwork of Strong Film Foundations, affiliated with First Love Christian Church in San Antonio. The congregation, about 200 members, is led by Pastor Sun Hui East, whose scripts the ministry churns into feature films. Her son, Josiah Warren, directs and usually plays a leading role in them.

Baldwin has turned his focus to faith-based movies in recent years, a path driven by his well-publicized evangelical beliefs. He wrote about his conversion to Christianity in his book, “The Unusual Suspect.” He found a kindred spirit in the local Christian film company, he said.

“The greatest impact sociologically on the culture is movies,” Baldwin said before a shoot earlier this week. “There's no question about it. ... This group clearly believes that God is calling them to use this medium as an opportunity to communicate the message.

“I'm connecting with the spirit of that thing that is motivating them. God's timing is very unique.”

As a result of focusing on faith-based movies and TV shows, he said God honored him with new gigs in popular, secular productions. He recently secured roles in “The Following” on FOX and the NBC crime drama “Blacklist.”

“I think personally making the choice to allow my faith to be the thing that's been my priority, I never could have anticipated it would come back around like this full circle,” he said. “I'm having more opportunity now than ever before. Which is kind of funny. God has a way of doing stuff like that.”

Baldwin said Pastor East and her staff contacted him through his website, not by the networking common in setting up Hollywood films. After a casual discussion, he read the script and agreed to play a part.

Pastor East said she did not know who Baldwin was before making this connection but believes his contributions will help more people notice the film.

“He believes the same way we believe,” she said. “People knew he was ungodly and then the way he changed his life. It gives people hope that, 'if he can change, I can change.'”

She estimates the movie's budget to be about $1.1 million. The story focuses on a young, successful architect named Scarlett, preparing for a life with her husband, Chase, played by Warren. But her diagnosis of terminal cancer causes her to struggle with her faith in God. The couple end up also helping another woman named Mia, in an abusive relationship.

More evangelical churches and ministries are making feature films, and Hollywood continues to follow suit. “Noah,” starring Russell Crowe, is due out in late March. And Mark Burnett's “Son of God” hits theaters this weekend and has many churches buying out theaters for showings, including Cornerstone Church in San Antonio.

Church-produced films allow maintenance of creative control that otherwise would be lost to secular film companies, East said. The point, she said, is to produce a simple spiritual message from the Bible. Before each day's shooting, the church meets for prayer and Bible study at 4:30 a.m. and again at night.

Chloe Hurst, the actress playing Scarlett, began to attend church services during the shooting. A former stage actor in New York City, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career.

Playing Scarlett has changed her life, Hurst said, leading her to recommit herself to God and seek out more work in faith-based films.

“I lost touch with my religion over past the few years,” she said. “I got really lost in New York ... and L.A. and that sort of crowd. ... If the film can do anything, at least it worked on me. I hope it works on everyone else in the world.”